Educational Media Reviews Online

In Live and Let Go, the filmmaker Jay Niver follows his father’s final days after Sam Niver’s diagnosis of terminal prostate cancer. Sam, a 76-year-old who has been a small town newspaperman most of his life, speaks frankly about his decision to opt for “death with dignity.” Having watched his wife waste away in a hospital, Sam has obviously thought through his options. In addition to Sam’s comments, his family and friends all share their memories of Sam and their thoughts about his choice.

The final third of the film is thought provoking as Sam talks about his research into suicide methods using sedative drugs. Finally, Sam prepares for his death with some of his family in attendance. Viewers should be aware that the film does include footage of these preparations. Although peaceful, this scene will most likely be disturbing to many viewers. The family’s subsequent dealings with law enforcement officials is also shown.

Recommended with reservations. Recommended because the personal story presents a nice case study sure to lead to discussion about the many issues surrounding assisted suicide. The reservations are due to the length. Unfortunately, in creating a tribute to his father, the filmmaker did not edit as tightly as this review would have liked. The film would be more effective if it was significantly shorter. The lengthy middle segment that contains numerous comments from the family and friends distracts from Sam’s own words.